PrP: The Ox Skull Tribe
Kobolds are a nuisance throughout the civilized world. The small, brutish, reptilian humanoids have a great deal more pride and greed than they do sense, and have been known to cause serious problems for other humanoids unfortunate enough to dwell nearby. That is exactly the problem faced by the small town of Coldbrook, a sleepy little village almost a day's ride from Alexandria. The farmers and other citizens of the town have been repeatedly targeted by kobold raiding parties over the past few weeks. They steal livestock, food, tools, whatever they can get their hands on. Survivors of these raids report the kobolds boasting about a 'powerful new chief' recently taking control of the tribe, apparently the mastermind behind their recent aggression.
With the attacks now beyond the ability of the local militia to reliable repel, the townsfolk have banded together to offer a reward for adventurers willing to put a stop to these attacks. The kobolds have been striking every few nights, usually shortly after sunset. One could try to intercept these raiding parties, though it might be difficult to predict when and where they will strike next. Fortunately, a local hunter claims to have spotted their warrens deep within the nearby woods, and is willing to provide directions if the adventurers opt to confront the kobolds on their own turf. However they choose to approach the problem, the four who responded to the call for help have gathered at Coldcreek's single tavern to organize before setting out.
Conrad arrived hours ago, having taken the initiative to scout around the village and gather first hand accounts of how the raids have been taking place. Were people killed? Did the kobolds go out of their way to target or avoid people? What was stolen? Is the situation dire, or merely a nuisance? These are the questions the rifleman has been asking of the townsfolk while waiting for other adventurers to heed the call.
Lliannan sits at a table waiting for the others to lead the conversation, her quill in hand and ink stain on her fingers, she copies down some scroll. Her tongue sticking out in concentration, she doesn't even acknowledge the barmaid bringing her small cup of ale.
Angrid stands next to Lliannan's table, his helmet resting on the surface as he rumbles, "I think we're going to have to take the fight to the nest. Picking off the raiding parties is easy, but it won't stop the real problem -- and kobolds breed almost as fast as greenskins."
Inquiries shed a little more light on the situation in Coldcreek. While the kobolds seem intent on theft rather than outright mayhem, they haven't shied away from violence when they run across humans. Three local boys in the militia tried to stop a recent raid on the town's general store, but one was seriously injured and the others failed to stop them, finding themselves seriously outnumbered. No actual deaths yet, but the consensus seems to be that it's only a matter of time unless something is done.
Savannah walks in a bit late. Of course, she'd been doing a bit of listening about before walking into the tavern herself. She puts an arrow away and orders a drink and a bit of water for a water skin she had. She then looked back to see who else was in the tavern, and who was going to help her out.
Conrad arrives in the tavern with the information gathered. His longcoat features strange knotwork and stitching, as well as embellishments of Goblin-make. He arrives at the tail end of Angrid's statement, and the human casts a cool, neutral look the dwarf's way. Not responding directly, however, he instead sits down, "Thank you for coming. I believe our problem lies with the new chief. Not with the clan itself. We may be able to goad him into single combat if we challenge him. We need not wage an extermination campaign. No one yet has been killed, and the thefts have not been crippling."
Lliannan's small fingers move gnomishly quick, yet the script is elegant as well as scrupulously neat, she doesn't seem to even slow down in her writing, she answers the dwarf beside her. "Logically sound. I wonder what sort of things they have taken. Might explain what they are doing, is there a end design, a master plan." She glances up now, the red glass have been in place inside the goggles, and her eyes nearly match her hair in flame hair.
Savannah chuckles softly as she hears Conrad. "Somehow, I doubt the chief would come out for single combat." She says befpre unstringing her bow. "More than likely, we'll have to fight the chief, as well as his guards." She says softly before shrugging. "We can always try."
Some hours later, the group is deep within Coldcreek woods. The forest is actually quite peaceful for the most part. There are herbs and berries in plentiful supply, as well as plenty of wild game for hunting. As the hunter's directions are followed, guiding the group from landmark to landmark, the forest grows progressively darker as the thick canopy blocks out nearly all light. The group passes near a distinctive small pond, the last of the landmarks in the directions given. If the hunter's words were true, the kobold warrens should be no more than a few hundred yards ahead, through nearly pitch-black forest.
Angrid is on point, the dwarf's bulky form and heavy armor almost enough to hide behind as cover as he scans the forest. Shield strapped to his arm and his axe in hand, there's a deceptively jaunty spring in his step -- his beard bristles as this would be a great place for those obnoxious little lizards to spring an ambush...
Savannah snickering at Angrid as he practically skips up front.....which is amusing to the blonde. However, when the woods became almost literally pitch black, Savannah snaps her fingers and creates four little balls of light. She then tugs out a pair of arrows and nocks them on her bow.
Lliannan follows behind the tall slender blond, her quarterstaff (equal to one of Savannah's legs in length) in her hands. She glances from side to side, cause she can't see what's infront of her, nor behind. At times she jumps to see over tall grass or stumps, landing as quietly as she can.
Conrad is at the back of the party, keeping a sharp lookout for threats both before and behind. His dark coat blends in well, and his footsteps are quieted, for all the good that will do. His rifle is unslung, though the barrel of the Kulthian weapon is aimed toward the ground, and held at ease.
The light provided by Savannah reveals that the hunter's directions were accurate. Up ahead, in a small clearing in the deepest part of the woods, are a few small crude buildings crafted out of sticks, mud, and animal hides. No signs of kobolds yet, but those certainly look like the sorts of dwellings one might imagine them building above ground. Around the perimeter are several posts adorned with animal skulls, presumably intended as warnings to scare away intruders such as the adventurers.
GAME: Angrid rolls Perception: (19)+3: 22
GAME: Savannah rolls perception: (2)+1: 3
Angrid makes a tsking sound at the sight of the village. "Odd. Would've expected a cave system or somesuch..." He slowly approaches the crude mud-shacks, unimpressed by the animal skulls, tilting his head this way and that to try and catch any stray sound out of place.
Conrad whispers, "Remember, we are here to get the chieftain. We are /not/ here to murder the entire tribe."
Savannah tilts her head at the skulls and just chuckles. "Crude way to scare predators off." She says softly as she looks around more for enemies. "I think this'll be where we meet the most resistance."
GAME: Lliannan casts Detect Magic.
GAME: Angrid rolls Reflex: (11)+0: 11
Lliannan leans a bit to the side looking up ahead around the other two. She whispers quietly, "Navos give me sight of knowing.." she moves her hands before her eyes, "That I may see what may have been called of your will." She pushes her goggles up back onto her head, as if they would get in her way of her seeing auras of magical use.
Conrad sees nothing of interest yet, but continues to step carefully as he has been. His brow is furrowed and his jaw set, but his finger remains off the trigger. He is as relaxed as he can make himself, given the situation.
GAME: Jibbom rolls 3d6: (9): 9
GAME: Jibbom damaged Angrid for 9 points. 19 remaining.
As Angrid moves towards the collection of buildings, the ground suddenly gives way beneath him. A tarp was apparently stretched across the forest floor and covered with leaves. The camouflage was highly effective in the dark forest, alerting no one before Angrid tumbles nearly thirty feet down into a pit carved in the earth. Adding to the group's worries, the tarp drags along a series of chimes carved out of bone, generating a loud rattling sound. High pitched voices can soon be heard squeaking in the Draconic language.
And if the chimes didn't alert the kobolds, the blistering curse in Khazad probably got their attention. Let alone the crash when Angrid hit bottom; half plate can be very noisy.
Lliannan moves to find some cover, which isn't much for someone who isn't quite three feet tall. She gives a harsh whisper, "Take cover..."
Savannah watches as Angrid suddenly drops out of sight. She moves up along side of the hole and shakes her head. "Are you all right, Angrim?" She assumes everyone introduced themselves on the way out.
Conrad casually sidesteps behind a tree. It's not much, but it's quick and effective and readily at hand. Lifting his rifle to keep it parallel to the tree, he waits for the voices to draw closer.
GAME: Lliannan rolls Stealth: (14)+6: 20
GAME: Conrad rolls stealth: (17)+5: 22
The various loud noises the adventurers generate have the kobolds in quite a state of alarm. The tiny reptilian creatures, mostly red-scaled, can be seen darting between the crude buildings now. There's no immediate move to attack, but they're shouting excitedly and some seem to be gathering weapons and crude armor. Even with Savannah's lights, it's difficult to see too much in the dark woods.
Angrid growls up at Savannah, "Go to ground, girl. Those damned lizards are going to be on the move. I'll be fine... assuming I can figure out a way out of here.
GAME: Savannah rolls perception: (3)+1: 4
GAME: Conrad rolls perception: (15)+4: 19
GAME: Lliannan rolls perception: (12)+10: 22
Savannah says, "Sorry, Angrid. I'm not leaving you down there." She says trying to reach down to get Angrid back up to level ground. She counts on Conrad and Lliannan to cover her while she gets the dwarf out of the hole."
Lliannan peers out from her cover, her quick eyes taking in the movement beyond. She glances back to see where Conrad has gotten himself to, and motions towards the largest of the buildings. She seems to be bitting her lips in thought as to how to communicate with the man over the distance. She holds up six fingers.. to indicate how many she sees.
Savannah blinking as she feels the hole is deeper than what she thought it was.....she doesn't even have low light vision. However, she she brings one of her lights over she makes a face. "Well that explains a lot." She then lays her bow down and throws down a rope. "Come on, Angrid." She then ties the rope around her waist.
Angrid scowls at Savannah, but holds his tongue as the rope comes down the side of the hole. "Tie it off to something stout, girl, I'm not exactly a lightweight." He picks up his axe and slings it, along with his shield.
Conrad nods faintly in response to Lliannan's motions. He's actually looking in that direction, down the barrel of his rifle. He has crouched down, to one knee, and is motionless as he watches the building with the ox skull. There is little difference between him and an elven bowman. Only the weapon and the ears have changed.
GAME: Angrid rolls climb: (1)+-4: -3
More and more activity goes on among the kobolds. Those without armor and weapons, including some that seem to be children, seem to be fleeing as fast as possible. Then, there's a loud sound that cuts out above the chatter of the kobolds. A large froglike creature, almost the size of a horse, leaps out of the entrance of a building near the back of the settlement, the one adorned with the ox skull. It lands with a sort of squishing sound. The creature is white and glistens in what little light there is, as if covered with some sort of slime or grease. In all other respects it resembles a giant frog, aside from a massive pair of walrus-like tusks. Riding on the back of this beast is a particularly large kobold with dark green scales, wearing plate armor that looks like it might've once been crafted for a halfling or gnome. He raises aloft a stone axe and shouts out something that sounds like a war cry. A couple more kobold warriors scramble out to join the group that seems to be assembling there.
Angrid curses as the earthen side of the pit crumbles when he puts pressure on it. "Lass," he growls a bit lower, "don't get yerself killed trying to fish me out of here."
GAME: Savannah rolls knowledge/arcana: (4)+6: 10
GAME: Lliannan rolls Knowledge/arcana: Trained Use Only: 0
GAME: Lliannan rolls knowledge/nature: Trained Use Only: 0
Savannah says, "I'm not leaving you in there, Angrid." She then looks up and makes a bit of a face. "Give me a second." She then ties the rope off onto something a bit more stable, and able to hold Angrid's weight. "Come on up." She says as she gets up and picks her bow up, as well as her arrows."
GAME: You clear initiatives.
GAME: Jibbom has cleared initiatives.
GAME: Savannah rolls initiative: Roll: 18 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 22
GAME: Conrad rolls initiative: Roll: 3 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 7
GAME: You roll initiative for Kobolds: Roll: 20 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 21
GAME: Angrid rolls initiative: Roll: 7 + Bonus: 0 = Total: 7
GAME: You roll initiative for Chief: Roll: 10 + Bonus: 6 = Total: 16
GAME: Lliannan rolls initiative: Roll: 16 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 18
GAME: Conrad rolls weapon2: (14)+6: 20
GAME: Conrad rolls 1d12: (9): 9
BOOM! A flash of light thunders from the forest, and a metal slug cracks through the air, embedding itself in the chief and tearing through his armor. Ducking back around the tree, the rifle is cracked open in mid swing, loaded at its apogee, and snapped shut as it is brought back around for another shot. Conrad's expression is grim as one eye closes, and sights down the barrel.
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (7)+3: 10
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (2)+3: 5
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (20)+3: 23
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (9)+3: 12
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (19)+3: 22
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (2)+3: 5
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (17)+3: 20
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (12)+3: 15
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (8)+3: 11
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d3: (3): 3
GAME: Jibbom rolls 2d3: (4): 4
GAME: Jibbom damaged Savannah for 3 points. 19 remaining.
GAME: Jibbom damaged Conrad for 4 points. 15 remaining.
Despite the battle that has erupted around them, Savannah shakes her head. She then runs to find a secure stake to ties the rope off on, before making her way back to the hole. "Come on, Angrid. And hurry, it seems the Kolbolds are attacking!"
When their leader is shot, the kobolds squeak and sqwak in fury. It's not hard for them to spot Savannah, who is right by the open pit, and Conrad, who just shot at them. Both end up targeted as they load slings with heavy stones, swinging and firing a volley of rocks with an impressive amount of discipline and coordination for a kobold clan. Luckily most of the rocks fall away harmlessly, but two strike Conrad and one clonks painfully upon Savannah's head.
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+5: (19)+5: 24
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+4: (19)+4: 23
Lliannan keeps in cover, reaching into one of her many pockets, pulling small pinch of one, then a small pinch of another. "Give me ears to hear the words of truth, letting me know the words spoken." She releases the salt and soot into the air, so that she can understand the shriekings of the Kobolds.
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d6+2: (5)+2: 7
GAME: Jibbom damaged Conrad for 7 points. 8 remaining.
The kobold chieftan yells out another cry in Draconic. Evidently planning on leading the battle from the front, he commands his mount to charge ahead straight towards Conrad and the tree he's behind. The chief throws the axe in his hand which lands in Conrad's shoulder with a sickening 'thunk'. Making matters worse, the frog makes a disgusting sound as it leaps and bounds ahead, several boils on its back bursting and spraying Conrad with an incredibly foul-smelling sort of goo, hosing him down from surprising distance. It quickly hardens into the consistency of cold tar.
GAME: Conrad rolls weapon2-3: (12)+6+-3: 15
GAME: Angrid rolls climb: (13)+-4: 9
Conrad weathers the rocks with mere grunts, wincing at their impacts. But the axe embedding itself in his shoulder elicits an actual cry of pain. Dazed by the impact, the onslaught of goo catches him entirely off guard, and it slows his movements enough that he cannot compensate for the frog's agile movement. The shot goes wide, and Conrad narrows his eye, fighting off the dazzling sparks before his eyes at the axe in his shoulder. Pulling it out, Conrad throws it aside, cracks open the rifle, and painfully loads another shot in.
Angrid digs his feet into the earth, and begins to laboriously haul his way up the side of the pit... gritting out imprecations under his breath about the kobolds, their ancestry, their habits, their chosen lifestyle, et-cetera... watching the edge of the pit gradually get closer...
GAME: Savannah rolls weapon5-1: (8)+8+-1: 15
GAME: Savannah rolls weapon5-1: (18)+8+-1: 25
GAME: Savannah rolls 1d8+3: (4)+3: 7
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (3)+3: 6
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (12)+3: 15
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (1)+3: 4
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (12)+3: 15
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (20)+3: 23
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (8)+3: 11
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (8)+3: 11
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (17)+3: 20
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (9)+3: 12
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d3: (2): 2
GAME: Jibbom rolls 2d3: (5): 5
GAME: Jibbom damaged Savannah for 5 points. 14 remaining.
GAME: Jibbom damaged Conrad for 2 points. 6 remaining.
Seeing Angrid making his way up the hole now, Savannah ignores the hit to her head, and fires a couple of shots at the chief, figuring if he drops, the kobolds will scatter. One of the arrows hit the chief solidly in the shoulder while the other one thunks into the side of a building.
The kobolds march behind their leader in a surprisingly organized looking sort of formation, forming two rows of four. Each loads their sling in unison before launching another volley of heavy stones. Two strike Savannah, while another hits the slime-encrusted Conrad. That fellow just can't catch a break. Now moving closer to the adventurers, the kobolds draw their spears, suggesting they intend to move to fighting toe to toe.
GAME: Lliannan rolls 1d8+1: (5)+1: 6
GAME: Jibbom damaged Conrad for -6 points. 12 remaining.
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+5: (14)+5: 19
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d8+2: (7)+2: 9
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+4: (7)+4: 11
GAME: Jibbom damaged Conrad for 9 points. 3 remaining.
Still under cover, she takes a look at Conrad. The tall man, yes everyone is tall to her, and he doesn't look so good. She moves her fingers in a soothing wave motion, then in his direction. "Navos for he that sees all, knows all. Heal this friend that he might seek perfection, that he may find self reflection.." casting a healing spell at the man.
The chieftan draws a larger axe as his steed brings him right up to the slime-ified Conrad's hiding spot. He swings and strikes, cutting open another wound almost as soon as Lliannan heals it shut. The gnome's efforts there are indeed noticed, and he barks out a quick command. The frog creature fires out another jet of putrid slime, but is unable to effectively spray the gnome.
GAME: Conrad rolls weapon2-3: (3)+6+-3: 6
GAME: Angrid rolls climb: (20)+-4: 16
GAME: Savannah rolls weapon5-1: (8)+8+-1: 15
GAME: Savannah rolls weapon5-1: (5)+8+-1: 12
Conrad narrows his eyes and stands as the Kobold approaches. Snapping his loaded rifle shut, Conrad fights against the entangling goo as he levels his rifle grimly at the chieftain's face...and FIRES. The rifle explodes with vigor...but when the smoke clears, the chieftain has ducked, and Conrad facefaults, his eyes wide.
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+1: (20)+1: 21
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+1: (5)+1: 6
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+1: (16)+1: 17
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+1: (9)+1: 10
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+1: (13)+1: 14
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+1: (10)+1: 11
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+1: (11)+1: 12
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+1: (17)+1: 18
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+1: (8)+1: 9
With a grunt of exertion and the clank of metal, Angrid manages to drag himself over the pit's edge with almost superhuman (superdwarfish) effort. Levering himself to his feet, he cracks his knuckles pointedly, and rumbles, "Oh, it's on now, lads."
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d6-1: (5)+-1: 4
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d6-1: (2)+-1: 1
Savannah also aims at the chief. Unfortunately, both of her shots are wide of her mark. "We need to take out that guy on the toad, Angrid."
GAME: Jibbom damaged Angrid for 4 points. 15 remaining.
GAME: Jibbom damaged Savannah for 1 points. 13 remaining.
And what is Angrid's reward for finally climbing out of the pit? Why, a kobold's spear jabbing him in the gut, of course! Luck is not on the side of the adventurers today at all. As the kobolds close around the pit they stab wildly at the sorceress and the dwarf, one grazing Savannah and giving her another scratch.
GAME: Lliannan rolls 1d20+2+1: (20)+2+1: 23
GAME: Lliannan rolls 1d20+2+1: (10)+2+1: 13
GAME: Lliannan rolls 1d4+1: (1)+1: 2
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+4: (10)+4: 14
After the chief's frog spit yucky stuff in her direction, she narrows her eyes, pushing the green lenses down into her goggles and pushes the goggles into place. She steps out of concealment and swings her trusty quarterstaff at the chief. In amazement, it clunks the chief squarely on the head, knocking him out cold. Watching him fall off his frog, she looks down at the quarterstaff in her hands, then back to the chief on the ground. "I hate slime!"
The slimy frog-thing is not happy about losing its beloved rider. Making a horrible sort of blubbering sound it lunges at the gnome, trying and failing to gore her with one of those oversized tusks.
GAME: Conrad rolls weapon2-3: (10)+6+-3: 13
Conrad braces for the end. Having stalked death for so long, he isn't even afraid. The chieftain raises his axe, Conrad closes his eyes, and...nothing. Opening them, and seeing the chieftain on the ground, Conrad comments, succinctly: "Huh." As the frog turns away toward the healer, Conrad marshals his strength up for a second wind, and wills his arm to move despite the deep wounds within it, "Hey, frog breath." BOOM. "Never turn your back on a rifleman."
GAME: Angrid rolls 1d20+5: (18)+5: 23
GAME: Angrid rolls 1d10+3: (6)+3: 9
Angrid makes another grunt as a spear tags him just below his breastplate, but now his blood's up and he's riled. "Oh, you're so done, laddie," he snarls at the kobold that just poked him. Smoothly he sweeps out his waraxe, the heavy blade describing a remarkably symmetrical arc right through the kobold's neck, sending the head spinning away into the underbrush. Angrid's beard bristles, as he growls, "Right! Now, who's next? I need some new boots anyways!"
GAME: Savannah rolls weapon5-1: (20)+8+-1: 27
GAME: Savannah rolls weapon5-1: (3)+8+-1: 10
GAME: Savannah rolls weapon5-1: (3)+8+-1: 10
GAME: Savannah rolls 1d8+3: (1)+3: 4
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (3)+3: 6
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (5)+3: 8
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (9)+3: 12
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (7)+3: 10
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (10)+3: 13
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (14)+3: 17
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d6-1: (5)+-1: 4
GAME: Jibbom damaged Savannah for 4 points. 9 remaining.
The surviving kobolds shriek in horror and dismay as they begin to fall, especially when their chieftan topples from his steed. Yet they fight on, seeking revenge for fallen comrades. Three each surround Angrid and Savannah. While the dwarf's attackers have no success, one pokes Savannah in the side with his spear.
Smiling as she sees Angrid starting to fight his way towards the toad, Savannah begins to give the dwarf covering fire, despite the poke to her side. She'll shoot them all eventually.
GAME: Lliannan rolls 1d20+2: (7)+2: 9
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+4: (8)+4: 12
GAME: Conrad rolls weapon2-3: (1)+6+-3: 4
Lliannan moves her arms outward, then inwards following a very definate pattern, she centers her chi. She moves her arm and shoots it out towards the toad. With unusual toadiness the slimy green fiend moves, or Llia didn't center well enough. She doesn't fret though. She goes back to doing some centering movements, and in so avoids the toads move towards her.
Conrad grumbles as his shots keep missing, and the recoil is ravaging his wounded shoulder. "HHhhrrrng!" Snapping open the rifle, loading, it, and snapping it shut one-handed, Conrad levels the rifle...but the hammer only clicks. It doesn't fire. Dud round. "Really?"
GAME: Angrid rolls 1d20+5: (5)+5: 10
GAME: Savannah rolls weapon5-1: (2)+8+-1: 9
GAME: Savannah rolls weapon5-1: (15)+8+-1: 22
GAME: Savannah rolls 1d8+3: (3)+3: 6
Angrid starts bellowing in his rough voice a traditional dwarven hymn -- something about the lost treasures of Koganusan. Of course, it's Angrid, so it's pretty much barely a step above noise, but at least his shield's in play even if the kobold avoids getting its head split open by the next axe-chop.
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (19)+3: 22
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (7)+3: 10
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (9)+3: 12
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (16)+3: 19
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (6)+3: 9
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d6-1: (1)+-1: 0
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d6-1: (4)+-1: 3
GAME: Jibbom damaged Savannah for 1 points. 8 remaining.
GAME: Jibbom damaged Angrid for 3 points. 12 remaining.
Savannah doesn't let up on the arrow slinging. She fires two shots into the crowd, and one finds the eye of a kobold, felling it immediately. "Keep it up!"
As the giant tusked froglike monster continues to blubber and thrash at the gnome, the remaining kobolds continue their increasingly desperate struggle against Savannah and Angrid. One more blow is scored against each, though the strength of the little army is obviously waning.
GAME: Lliannan rolls 1d8+1: (7)+1: 8
GAME: Jibbom damaged Conrad for -8 points. 11 remaining.
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+4: (15)+4: 19
GAME: Jibbom rolls 2d6+3: (7)+3: 10
GAME: Jibbom damaged Lliannan for 10 points. 4 remaining.
During her centering routine, she does notice that Conrad looks a bit pale. Llia's hands move in an intricate motion. "Navos," she looks at the frog quickly and takes a step back, "Heal my comrad, that he may seek to find self-perfection in healing.." Just as her spell is granted, the frog moves up quickly, too quickly to dodge.
It was really only a matter of time before the thrashing, enraged, frog-walrus beast succeeded in inflicting injury on the gnome out of revenge for his fallen rider, It lunges upon her and gores her painfully with one of those massive tusks that look so out of place on a frog.
GAME: Conrad rolls weapon2-3: (15)+6+-3: 18
GAME: Conrad rolls 1d12+1: (12)+1: 13
As Liannan is gored and possibly knocked down, a shadow falls on the amphibian from behind. It's Conrad, his shoulder healed, and the rifle held steady. A click, and a metal barrel is placed against its slippery hide. "Bang." The rifle explodes, sending bits of charred frog flying.
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+1: (15)+1: 16
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+1: (20)+1: 21
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+1: (4)+1: 5
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d6-1: (4)+-1: 3
GAME: Jibbom damaged Angrid for 3 points. 9 remaining.
GAME: Angrid rolls 1d20+5: (13)+5: 18
GAME: Angrid rolls 1d10+3: (3)+3: 6
GAME: Savannah rolls weapon5-1: (6)+8+-1: 13
GAME: Savannah rolls weapon5-1: (10)+8+-1: 17
Angrid lunges as he sees an opening, charging through the scattered kobolds as a spear digs into his thigh. He roars, posting off a rock as he brings his heavy axe down on the frog's skull. There's a loud, distinct CRACK as the beast slumps to the ground, while Angrid wrenches his blade free for its next target.
GAME: Savannah rolls 1d8+3: (1)+3: 4
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+1: (12)+1: 13
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+1: (13)+1: 14
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (13)+3: 16
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+3: (9)+3: 12
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d6-1: (6)+-1: 5
GAME: Jibbom damaged Savannah for 5 points. 3 remaining.
Seeing the frog go down, Savannah turns her aim towards the kobolds, firing two shots. Unfortunately only one hits, felling another Kobold.
With their leader gone and half their numbers unconscious or worse, it's really quite a testament to the discipline of these kobolds that they continue fighting. Two scramble after Angrid, flailing at him with their spears to little additional avail. Two remain on either side of Savannah, one catching her in the back with his spear point again.
GAME: Lliannan rolls 1d6+1: (4)+1: 5
GAME: Jibbom damaged Lliannan for -5 points. 9 remaining.
GAME: Jibbom damaged Conrad for -5 points. 16 remaining.
GAME: Jibbom damaged Angrid for -5 points. 14 remaining.
GAME: Jibbom damaged Savannah for -5 points. 8 remaining.
GAME: Conrad rolls weapon2-7: (1)+6+-7: 0
Despite the serious wound to Llia, her discpline takes over, she drops only to one knee. Once the frog lays dead from Angrid's swing, she stands slowly. Moving over she rolls the chief out of the way, stands within range of her group. She begins her routine, slowly due to the injury but she is able to center her chi, calm her mind. She waves her hands soothingly through the air, "Navos, you have knowledge of our ploy. We seek the perfection of health, we seek healing from your mind's eye. Give me the power to affect perfection of body.." her hands glow and the glow extends outwards to take in the others, healing their wounds.
Conrad hmphs as the frog finally goes down...but the slime is hardening, and Conrad fights against it as he tries to follow one of the kobolds attacking Savannah. He lets off a shot, but it's so far wide he just shakes his head and starts to pull the slime off him, "I'm getting nowhere in all this goop."
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+1: (7)+1: 8
GAME: Jibbom rolls 1d20+1: (3)+1: 4
GAME: Angrid rolls 1d20+5: (15)+5: 20
GAME: Angrid rolls 1d10+3: (2)+3: 5
GAME: Savannah rolls weapon5-1: (14)+8+-1: 21
GAME: Savannah rolls weapon5-1: (17)+8+-1: 24
GAME: Savannah rolls 1d8+3: (2)+3: 5
GAME: Savannah rolls 1d8+3: (3)+3: 6
Angrid laughs as he whirls suddenly and runs back the way he came... kobold spears rattling futilely off his shield as he runs past, as he makes a loud raspberry sound. Before one of the kobolds menacing Savannah can react, he buries his axe in his target's spine, dropping it to the ground.
Not worrying about herself at the moment, Savannah takes a deep breath and fire arrows at the two remaining Kobolds. The irony is, despite her earlier attempts to take out two.....she now sinks an arrow into an eye of each of the one she's aiming for. "Well....looks like we had to drop a lot of them......."
Only one lone kobold remains. All of his allies dead or dying. He looks around with wide eyes at the scene of carnage in front of him. Then he drops his spear and lifts up his hands, calling out in broken Tradespeak. "Hold! Hold! You not kill Grib! Grib surrender!"
Lliannan takes a deep breath as the Kobold surrenders. She looks towards his chief. Nodding towards the unconscious chief. "Do you wish me to save him too? Secure them? I am unaware of the proper proceedure here." She moves close to the chief inspecting all of the wounds, "He will die soon.. " She doesn't seem quite happy about that.
Angrid makes a point of shaking his axe off, spattering kobold blood and giant frog-critter ichor on the ground. "We have to deal with why they keep raiding Coldbrook," he rumbles at Lliannan.
Savannah looks to the kobold that speaks up in broken tradespeak. "You can talk? Why didn't you do so in the first place? We could've stopped this!" She sweeps her arm behind her to show what they just did.
Conrad whews and finally starts to divest himself of the slime, pulling at it and trying to peal it off his leather coat, "...This is probably never going to come out. ...This is my favorite coat, too." He sighs and grrs, pulling at it. Then, when Lliannan speaks, he looks up, "He lead these kobolds in attacks on human settlements, taking what did not belong to him. He attacked without remorse, and wounded many." He trudges forward, making sure Grib heard everything, "This kobold would have made war with the human world, and driven his people to ruin out of fear and hate of humanity..."
Conrad turns and looks down at Lliannan, "Heal him. And leave him be. We're done here."
Grib is fairly non-menacing by kobold warrior standards, definitely on the smaller side compared to the rest of his squad. His scales are a light red, probably appearing pink under brighter light. He shakes as he listens to the statements made about the chieftan's health, and Savannah's questions. He gulps before answering. "Chief Slurkrider made Ox Skull Tribe attack humans. Made Ox Skull Tribe attack you. Chief orders, Ox Skull Tribe listens. Grib listens." Grib is silent for a moment, thinking. "Grib... Grib maybe have idea to solve problem, if nice brave warriors will listen to Grib?"
Savannah says, "I'm willing to listen, Grib. as long as you don't attack again." She says softly, and even puts away her bow. But those that know Savannah knows she's not helpless."
Angrid rumbles, "We're listening." He shrugs his shoulders, wincing at the multitude of small injuries that have added up; even for a dwarf, that hurts. Casually, he leans on his axe, pointedly /not/ putting it away for the moment.
Lliannan is next to the chief, her hand hangs over his form. When the kobold speaks up, she hesitates and listens. "Speak," her green eyes flashing, "It best be a good idea." she glances at Conrad. "At worst, we can secure than heal the chief, then take him to the settlement, for them to deal with as they need."
Conrad shrugs and waits to hear what Grib has to say. But he is doing nothing threatening. Instead, he continues to try to free himself from the slime.
GAME: Conrad rolls strength: (5)+1: 6
Grib gulps again before going on. "Rest of Ox Skull ran away. Go to other safe spaces in woods. Maybe... maybe if Chief Slurkrider not survive battle, then Grib can tell them that Grib was only one to survive and drive away fierce warriors. They will think Grib is mightiest warrior of tribe. Then Grib will be Chief Grib." Grib obviously likes this part of his idea. "Then Chief Grib order rest of tribe to stay far away from human tribe. No more war. Go back to hunting deer and bears for eats. No more hurt humans and human friends. Grib will be peaceful Chief. Warriors like this?" He asks, hopefully.
Lliannan frowns deeply after she has heard the little kobold's idea. She looks down at the chief, "I have no love for their kind, but I do not relish falsehood. I have not a care what he," she motions towards Grib, "says, or who he says it to. I will not falsify before my god. And the townsfolk, will they see retribution? Or should this one be given over for such?"
Savannah stares at Grib for a long time, then gets a wry smile. "I approve, as long as there is no more war between your clan and the human. Peace is more important than war." She then points to Grib. "As long as you keep your promise, Grib, we shall keep ours. perhaps even benefit from peace." She then looks to the dying chief. "Leave the chief. If he survives, it'll only bring more battles." She then looks Lliannan. "They will not. If they do, they will be no better than the kobold chief."
"The alternative is wiping them out to the last," Angrid regards the last kobold standing with a hard stare. "Peronally, I like the idea. They know what will happen if they start attacking again."
Conrad steps forward, suddenly *crunching* Chief Slurkrider's throat as he passes. Shouldering his rifle, Conrad nods, "I approve of your plan, but we must make it convincing." He kneels down and gestures to his arm, utterly soaked in blood from the axe that embedded itself into his shoulder, "Coat your weapon and part of your chest armor in the blood on my sleeve." He narrows his eyes, "Do not stab me, there is plenty there already." His eyes unnarrowing, he lifts his head a bit, "Your people will see you as a fearsome and mighty warrior. They will respect your call for peace, and we will not kill you as we killed him."
Grib looks quite relieved when his plan seems to meet with approval. "Humans and human-friends not regret this! Humans will not even know Ox Skull Tribe still in the woods. You tell them Chief Slurkrider and Chief Slurkrider's friends dead, maybe that make them happy and nobody bother others anymore?" Grib is mildly horrified by Conrad's slaying of his chief and his approach, but he seems to catch onto Conrad's intent quickly enough. He grins toothily. "Grib like human warrior's idea! Grib will look mighty! All Ox Skull Tribe will hail Grib as mightiest warrior of all!" Grib runs his hands over Conrad's bloody sleeve, taking his spear again and applying it liberally to the weapon, as well as to his own hands, arms, armor, and face. He grins afterwards. "Grib is mighty! Grib go find rest of tribe, tell them of peace now?"
Lliannan blinks and looks down at the chief, completely in her power to heal or let die. She closes her eyes, her lips moving ever so slightly as she prays for guidance. She hears the crunch of small bones and flesh, she doesn't even need to open her eyes to see what was done. She stands up and turns away from the scene. Her expression is pained, but she looks to the sky. "We do not know the path, The Spinner of Fate wills all." She keeps her face averted from the rest of the group, obviously trying to find solace and calm with the direction the group has taken.
Savannah says, "Just keep something in mind, Grib." She says pointing an arrow at him. "We do not want war." She says before gesturing to the kobolds, and the chief behind them. "But we are prepared to do more if you can't fulfill your end of the bargain." She says calmly. "We do hope you are able to keep the peace. We shall try to keep our end of the peace, Grib.""
Conrad nods to Grib and turns away, looking sidelong to Lliannan, "A better path presented itself. One filled with less uncertainty. I am sorry." And with that, he departs, heading back the way they came. His grim expression and silent demeanor last until they are out of the woods, and on their way back to the inn for the night.
Grib actually looks rather excited at how things have turned out. "Grib will be best Chief Tribe Ox Skull ever! Grib will keep promises and stop war! Grib will take many wives! Best wives!" And with that, the pink kobold charges off into the forest to lead his people to what can only be hoped will be a brighter future.
After an uneventful trek back through the woods, the people of Coldcreek are informed of what transpired. They are quite pleased. Most seem convinced that with the chief dead, the kobolds will have no further interest in raiding the town. Even if they did decide to try again, the townsfolk are quite confident the militia would be up to the task of repelling them now that the vast majority of their 'army' is dead. The adventurers are thanked and paid the posted reward, and assured they will be remembered as heroes by the good people of Coldcreek.